Tag Archives: Sonny Weems

by | October 30, 2012 · 11:19 am

The Landry Fields Era Begins

The small Forward position, as it tends to be,  is filled with intrigue this year.  The Raptors went out this summer and added Landry Fields to the fold.  He provides defense, high basketball IQ and the ability to mesh with anyone you put on the floor with him.

His path to Toronto is well documented.  The short version of the story goes something like this.

The Raptors and Bryan Colangelo really wanted Steve Nash, but it looked as though Nash was going to head to the Knicks in a sign and trade deal that centered around Landry Fields.  The Raptors quickly moved to sign Fields to an offer sheet they knew the Knicks couldn’t match which effectively eliminated them from contention for Nash.  Toronto was then seen as the clear front-runner for Nash’s services until the Lakers entered the fray, stole Nash away from Toronto with promises of championship glory and the Raptors were left with a pretty large contract offer to Landry Fields which he was then signed to.

Some contend the Raptors contract to Fields was a huge mistake and will set the franchise back.  Others, myself included, feel that while they overspent to get Fields, he brings a work ethic and defensive presence that will markedly improve this team and will specifically bring tough wing defense, something the Raptors have not seen for a long time.  Though more expensive than he should have been, the Raptors are still likely to get decent return for their money.

Landry Fields has a lot of doubters in Toronto after signing a big contract. It will be interesting to see if his hard work and defensive intensity can win over fans the way he was able to in New York.

The Toronto Raptors haven’t really had a strong presence at the Small Forward since the days of Tracy McGrady.  Recent starters have included (in no particular order) Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon, Hedo Turkoglu, Shawn Marion and Sonny Weems.

While the small forwards for the Raptors have had varying degrees of success, a few (see Turkoglu) were cataclysmic failures, but  none made a significant impact for the club during their time as a starter.

Landry Fields may change that.

Fields is known around the NBA as a hard worker, a defensive presence and good teammate.  His his focus on the defensive side of the ball will certainly come in handy for a team that has had significant issues guarding the perimeter over the years.

Fields is a positive personality and will certainly endear himself to the Toronto media.  Truth be told, he already has.

But that contract….

Many pundits, bloggers and journalists choose to focus on the length and cost of the contract Fields has.  To be fair it is an expensive and longer term deal for a guy with only two years of experience under his belt, but certainly not a contract that is going to cause cap issues for a long period of time and it is likely flexible enough to become a tradeable asset if the situation presents itself.

Fields is an upgrade at the position and if he can improve on his woeful 3-pt shooting he could become a solid offensive piece to the Raptors game plan going forward as well.

If not, the Raptors have a host of solid pieces to back Fields up and offer the Raptors a number of different matchup possibilities.

Linas Kleiza is a pure scorer who brings instant offense off the bench.  There are some in the Raptors fan base that believe he should have been the starter to maximize Fields defense on the second unit with Jose Calderon, a noted deficiency on the defensive end.  Though Kleiza has had great success internationally, he has yet to put it together consistently for the Raptors.  He’s been injured and inconsistent in his time in Toronto, but still offers the Raptors great flexibility. He is a natural small forward and can also slide over to the 4 if need be and create a strong smaller lineup when Casey wants to go small.

If Kleiza can shoot the ball well and play the way he did in the World Championships then he may see increased minutes throughout the season, maybe even some time in the starting lineup.  Especially if Fields struggles on the offensive side of the ball where he has not been as effective.

Alan Anderson is another interesting option for Dwane Casey off the bench.  The journeyman really impressed the coach in limited time last season and continued his strong effort throughout the pre-season.  Anderson is a smart and savvy veteran who knows what his role is.  He provides strong defensive ability (like Fields) and can score, mostly because he has a knack for getting into great position to score.

Dwane Casey is going to have struggles at times finding enough minutes for everyone, but he has something a lot of coaches do not have: options. He can pull out an almost pure scorer in Kleiza or go for defense with Anderson and Fields.  If he wants to go small he can easily move Kleiza over to the 4 and both Fields and Anderson can slide over to the two if need be.

Casey has a great deal of depth at his disposal and can utilize it to exploit the matchups he wants.  The fact that these three players are versatile enough to play other positions and do not usually get into foul trouble could mean that we could see any of the three on the court in various positions.

The forward position is sure to be a strength for the Raptors and it is clear that with Landry Fields in the starting role the focus will continue to be on the defensive side of the ball.

Landry Fields will get his opportunity to prove fans and doubters wrong even if he isn’t a high scoring small forward in the mould of Tracy McGrady.

Hey, at least he isn’t Hedo Turkoglu.

***

ZTH

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald

@kpedlar

***

Leave a Comment

Filed under Editorial, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | April 7, 2012 · 8:03 am

Cavs Beat Raptors in Tank Bowl 2012

That wasn’t the prettiest game in the world last night, in fact, let us never speak of it again.

The Raptors sported a starting lineup the Bakersfield Jam would likely not be concerned about.  Ben Uzoh?  Alan Anderson? and Justin Dentmon serving as the primary backup one shootaround into his Raptor career?

If this is what “Tank Nation” is all about then I want no part of it.

That was ugly.  That was ugly before the disgraceful 4th quarter where the Raptors were outscored 33-17.  I mean the game was tied at 68 in the 3rd Quarter.  Is that “pounding the rock” or just straight stinking out the joint?

To be fair, the Raptors were without Calderon, who was relegated to the bench with “hockey face” after Elton Brand elbowed him in the face on Wednesday.  They were also without James Johnson, who is usually a spark plug for the Raptors.  He was out with what can only be described as “upsetting the coach”.

Not a great effort for our team, not at all.

Still Derozan had another strong game, Sonny Weems returned and Tristan Thompson got a nice ovation from the crowd.  Not all bad, I guess.

Zan For Three

Driving the Tank

I get it. I really do.  I understand Tank Nation.  I understand the idea of cheering when your team loses.

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t get Kevin Durant by winning lots of games.  Lebron wasn’t delivered on Cleveland’s doorstep for shows of good effort.

Losing brings Toronto a valuable asset. Losing lots, at least theoretically, increases the value of that asset.

But if we are going to tank this season, I’d at least like to go down with some dignity.  Dwane Casey has shown this past week that he has absolutely no intention of leaving this season with a whimper.  He has this team playing hard and aggressive.

Just not last night.

If we are working towards next year, it would be nice to see a little more Ed Davis and a little more Solomon Alabi.  Last night, Justin Dentmon, fresh off of getting to the city, played 20 minutes. Alabi, a two-year Raptor, drank Gatorade.

Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson are living out their NBA dreams of starting in a game, while some of our younger players are wasting away on the bench.

Tank or no Tank, let’s play the players that have a possible future here.

Rumour Mill

So James Johnson sat against the Cavaliers on the very same night Sonny Weems made a public appearance in Toronto.  2+2=4

I’m not going to suggest that the Raptors are looking to replace Johnson with Weems.  That would be a bad idea, a very bad idea.  But Weems is a solid offensive player and one who has really shown some promise in Lithuania this year.  His arrival at the very same time his replacement was being benched is sure to conjure up all kinds of baseless rumours and armchair GM-ing.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that he returns, though.

He’s good friends with Demar Derozan who is seemingly part of our future. He can score in bunches, which would be a nice asset to have on our bench, especially since Leandro Barbosa’s output has been replaced by Alan Anderson’s thus far.  And he seems to want to be here.  If we are to believe his words. 

Sonny is a pretty one-dimensional player, but like Barbosa, he scores a lot.  If used properly off the bench he could become a semi-valuable asset.

That being said I don’t think the plan moving forward is to have Johnson start at the 3 next season (he would likely come in off the bench) and the Raptors don’t need to carry the extra wing if one will be acquired in the summer.

The Weems debate will continue and Colangelo is going to have to make a decision.

At the very least, there will be plenty of chatter about Mr. Weems over the last couple of weeks of the season.

The Dog House

Of all the players that I could imagine being in Dwane Casey’s “dog house”, James Johnson wouldn’t be one of them.  This season he has been Mr. Everything playing with energy, doing the little things and playing strong defense.

He has been a fan favourite because of the energy he plays with on the court.

It is therefore very intriguing why he has been benched in favour of Alan Anderson.

In typical Dwane Casey fashion, this matter is being dealt with internally (as it should be), but one has to wonder what Johnson did to earn his mini vacation.

Hopefully it was a minor incident that both parties are now .  The Raptors need James Johnson; tank or no tank.  He’s a fun player to watch and would have come in handy last night against the Cavs.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

The kid is getting his confidence back.  Unfortunately he’s getting it back just in time for the season to end.  Once again Raptor fans went from being done with Derozan to thinking he might be part of the core.  Is he the player from the first half? or the one playing well to end the season?

Seems like Derozan has got a bit of “Reimer-itis”, hopefully his solid play continues into next season and he doesn’t revert back to his old ways.  On Friday night he shot the ball well, got to the line and was one of the only players that gave his team a chance to win.

Not Zan of the Night

Alan Anderson

He is not an NBA starter, but there he was as the Raptors starting small forward.  He won’t be there much longer, one can only assume.  He finished with 30 minutes of play and zero points.  He missed the four shots he took and was an overall -13 on the night.

But I guess he deserves more time that Alabi.

#freealabi

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

***

1 Comment

Filed under Post game, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | April 3, 2012 · 11:08 pm

Raptors Get the Bobcat off Their Back

This was the third game this season the Raptors have played against the Bobcats and you could be forgiven thinking the Raptors would be winning that series. Tonight they finally got a win against a team they really should be beating on a regular basis.

The great debate between winning games against teams we should beat and “Tank Nation” continues, but in the end this is a victory you want to have if you are a Raptor fan.  The Bobcats are among the worst teams the league has ever seen.  I mean, they’re bad.  Another loss against this Charlotte team would say a lot more about our current roster than anything else.

On Tuesday night the Raptors found a way to win and sent some positive signs out to a fanbase that is quickly losing interest in anything outside of a free slice of pizza.

Demar Derozan once again looked good, Bargnani filled the net with 30 points and Linas Kleiza, Ed Davis and Aaron Gray provided support.

I know what most people are thinking; it’s the Bobcats, why should we care?

A loss against this team would be demoralizing and it would send the wrong message about our future core.  We need to beat the Bobcats of this league.  Derozan and Bargnani need to develop more confidence and it isn’t going to happen by losing.  Plus Charlotte is a team that has owned us this year.  This was a little bit of payback.

A win tonight doesn’t help us get closer to Anthony Davis or Kidd Gilchrist, but it does help build the confidence of young players that are going to be asked to do a lot more next year.  Tonight Derozan and Bargnani answered the call and hopefully their stat lines look similar.

The Zan for Three

To Ed Davis, or not to Ed Davis?

I don’t know if Ed Davis read Tim Chisholm’s article on Tuesday afternoon that called into question his role on this team going forward, but he certainly came out and played a solid game.  He’s actually strung a few strong games together. Call it good timing, a push back, whatever you want.  Ed played well on Wednesday.  He rebounded well, something he is consistently good at.  He scored points, and didn’t look lost on the offensive end.  He made the most of the limited minutes he was given and was a valuable contributor off the bench.

As Chisholm suggests in his piece, Ed’s contract is not difficult to move and with Jonas Valanciunas coming in next year there are far too many big men on the team.  He would be the clear movable piece.

While Chisholm and others are calling into question Davis’s future in Toronto (with good reason), Ed is quietly going about his business.  On Tuesday night he was everything he needed to be to keep his spot on this team.  Whether he is showing he belongs on this team going forward or simply raising his trade value, Davis’s play  the last few games is something to take note of.  And maybe his fate isn’t quite cemented.

Where are the Fans?

It’s the end of the year. The Raptors are simply playing out the schedule, but where are all the fans?  The ACC has looked less and less full and when it is full it sounds like a crowd at the Toronto Symphony not at an NBA basketball game. That is, of course, unless there is pizza on the line.

Tonight the crowd once again seemed deflated, almost from the get go.  I’d like to believe it was because they found out Solomon Alabi wouldn’t be starting, but I have a feeling the fans just aren’t that into the Raptors right now.

The city has been absolutely deflated by the Maple Leafs collapse and the rough and tumble season the Raptors have been enduring.  Fans are fed up and losing patience.  Hopefully this is something Colangelo, Casey, Derozan, Bargnani, or whoever gives the end of the year speech to the ACC addresses.

Ed Davis provided a spark off the bench that lifted the Raptors to their first win of the season over the Charlotte Bobcats.

The ACC has always been a little reserved, but lately it’s been down right deadsville.  Unfortunately the Charlotte Bobcats aren’t exactly crowd pleasing competition, but when the game is on the line with 40 seconds left the entire stadium should be on its feet.  It doesn’t matter who they are playing.  The fans need to know that though this year has been tough, there is a change coming.

Sonny Return

So Sonny Weems is back in Toronto.  Now before I go creating a rumour that doesn’t exist, he is not coming back at the moment.  The injury he sustained in Lithuania ended his season with Zalgiris  and he is simply back to receive treatment on his sprained foot.  But wouldn’t he look good playing at the ACC again? The Raptors could use a fast, athletic wing player off the bench to compliment James Johnson and Demar Derozan.

Weems proved while he was overseas that he still has plenty of game left and may have actually done himself a great service by heading over to play with Zalgiris.  Sonny looked confident, took control of games when he as there and worked on becoming a more dominant player.  Right now Toronto could use an exciting player that can score coming off the bench.  With Udoh and Anderson, the Raptors have filled the roster with 10 day rentals.  Weems would offer a more long term solution to their depth issues.

Plus this is where he belongs.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Once again “good Demar” came out to play tonight.  He shot the ball well, got to the line and led the team to a tough victory.  What was most impressive about Demar’s play against Charlotte wasn’t the 50% shooting or the 20 points he was able to accumulate; it was his aggression.  Demar took the ball to the hoop and wasn’t afraid to draw contact.  He’s been getting his fair share of calls recently and you can tell it is giving him the confidence he needs to attack the rim on a more consistent basis.  Even though we are nearing the end of the year, it is nice to see Derozan playing well and his effort is a good sign for the team next year as well.

Not Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson

“Bad Amir” came out of the wood work tonight.  Despite a few well-timed defensive plays he was non-existent on offense and took himself out the game by accumulating fouls.  Ed Davis stepped up in Amir’s absence. Amir is a player that you can see has incredible potential, but he’s just not been able to put it together consistently.  The fouls are a part of his game that completely take him out of the flow and often land him on the bench.  He is one of my favourite players, but he continues to remind us that he still has some concerning habits.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Post game, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | March 10, 2012 · 11:22 am

Jonas is Coming! Spread the Word!

So this past week a Youtube video from the Lithuanian All-Star game was spread around the internet.  It showed Jonas Valanciunas slam dunking an alley oop dunk off the backboard and then dressing up like a wizard and romping around the stadium.

It obviously reached the Twitterverse around these parts and has revved up Raptors fans for the future.

This Jonas guy is coming to Toronto next year.  Fans are pumped up.  I mean he made the All-Star game in Lithuania with Sonny Weems by his side and has been a force this season despite modest averages. He is averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds, but has had games where he has just gone off.

He was the toast of Lithuania this past week when he went off for 25 points at the All Star game and dressed up like a wizard or Gandolf from Lord of the Rings and hammed it up for the crowd in attendance.  He also played really well in the game and is giving fans of the Lithuanian National team something to be excited about as we get closer to the Olympics.

Jonas Valanciunas is having a great year over seas and the Raptors could use his talents to envigorate a fan base that is once again going through a losing season.

In Toronto, we are excited too.

He is causing Raptor fans to talk, blog and actually get excited about their team in a season where there isn’t much else to cheer about.

Shouldn’t the people at MLSE, those shiny new Rogers/Bell ownership team, do something to help the fan base trumpet Jonas’s imminent arrival?

Shouldn’t Bryan Colangelo create a countdown clock like Chris Jericho used to debut in the WWE all those years ago?

Maybe he could “hatch” out of an egg on the last day of the regular season? or have his Gandolf video shown on the large screen during breaks in play.

If nothing else show clips of his play in Lithuania set to the music of Vanilla Ice?

Why not milk the excitement and turn these final few months into an exciting time when Raptors fans can get excited about what is to come?  It’s not like we are going to have a playoff drive to look forward to. Might as well celebrate his imminent arrival while singing “Ice, Ice, Baby”.

The team is playing really well right, looking every bit like a team that could contend for a playoff spot in the next year or two.  Optimism is all around the team right now.  Why not use the excitement of Jonas’s play overseas to keep the positive vibes going.  The positive energy the team creates now may help fans through the pain of a losing season and another year without playoff basketball.

The Raptors brass need to create a positive vibe surrounding the team and Jonas is a reason to get excited.  He’s a young player playing very well and will come in and fill a position of need next year.  Let’s use his strong season to create positive energy surrounding the team.

Then again, the hype machine may put too much unnecessary pressure on Jonas.  He may not need any more attention than he is already likely to get when he arrives.  Maybe that’s too much to put on him this early in the game.

But it’s something to get excited about dammit! We haven’t  had enough of that this year.

While New York has exploded in LinSanity and LA basks in the glory of CP3 and Blake Griffin, we don’t have that “wow” factor to get fans pumped about next year.  Even Minnesota, a place where excitement is always hard to find, have Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio to enjoy.

Bargnani has played well and Derozan has also; in spurts.  The Johnson’s are doing alright and there seems to be quite a bit of money to spend this coming year. That is positive.

Why not add some anticipation for a rising star.   At this year’s All-Star game in Orlando, the Raptors did not have a single player in the game or the Rising Stars game.  That will all change next year as the Raps will add Jonas and at least one more 1st round pick.  Having him involved in some sort of promotion is going to get the fans thinking about the future.

As a team about to finish near the bottom of the league again, that kind of thinking is what you want from fans.  It’s what brings them back and gets them buying tickets.

Maybe the subtle approach is the best one to take.  Show his Gandolf video at the ACC a few times.  Mention his name on air more frequently.  Maybe even have him appear at the ACC during halftime or at a break, hand out some prizes to contestants.  Maybe even show some clips from Lietuvos Rytas games.

Whatever the Raptors PR people decide to do (and honestly they don’t really need to do much) the fans deserve to celebrate this kid’s arrival.  they deserve to get excited in a way that differs from looking up Lithuanian basketball videos on Youtube.

Toronto wants to celebrate something awesome and Jonas can help us do that.

And thanks to his Gandolf costume we already know what the ACC will be chanting when he comes up with a big block next year.

“Thou Shalt Not Pass”!!!

Jonas Valanciunas is certainly getting Raptor fans excited for next year, but he could be exciting the entire fan base with a little more push from the organization.

We need something to get excited about because we can really already start thinking about next year.  Jonas, A first rounder, improved play from Bargnani, Derozan and the Johnsons, plus a bunch of capspace.

That is a recipe that Bryan Colangelo will be asked to turn into success.  His job likely depends on it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

–

Follow us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

2 Comments

Filed under Editorial, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | October 20, 2011 · 12:27 pm

Sonny Weems is Back Even if NBA Isn’t

Sonny Weems is playing professional basketball again while the rest of the NBA sits and waits to see if a deal can be brokered between the NBA and NBAPA.

His move to Zalgiris Kaunas was one that seemed risky, given the fact that there is no opt-out clause in his contract.  He is there for the duration of the season no matter what David Stern and Derek Fisher eventually agree on (if they ever agree).

For Sonny this trip to Europe may bring with it eventual dividends.  If he can show himself to be a top player in the Euroleague he could earn his way to a big pay-day in the NBA (assuming the eventual CBA doesn’t make it hard to do so).  Also, while the NBA players sit and wait for the league to come back, he will be playing ball overseas and keeping himself prepped and ready for game action.

Also, his and others involvement, with the Euroleague gives NBA fans something to do.  Youtube clips of Euroleague games to watch, boxscores to analyze and dissect, players to speculate about and competition to peek our interest.  Weems Provides Raptor fans, specifically, with exactly that.  He is one of the more intriguing players for Raps fans to follow.  Of course, Jonas will be the other one. Basketball fans are watching Sonny.

While the NBA holds it's breath, Sonny is happy and playing basketball in Lithuania.

In his first game with Zalgiris,  Sonny had an impressive 16 points, but it was on 5/13 shooting. He had almost triple the field goal attempts of any other player on his team. Weems developed a reputation in Toronto for volume shooting and being a bit of a black hole on offense. After one game, he seems to have followed that pattern of behaviour.  What he did do, that he needs to do more of if he hopes to return to the NBA, is get to the line.  He got to the line 7 times and turned it into an extra 6 points.  If Weems can get into the paint and draw contact on a regular basis he becomes a much more valuable player for Zalgiris and eventually for an NBA team.

He is playing for the defending Baltic League champs and gets to play alongside a number of talented players including Ty Lawson, Dejaun Collins and the talented Paulius Jankunas.  Zalgiris will likely play a part in this years top 16 teams and should be in the running to become a part of the Euroleague final four.

Success like that should give Sonny some positive exposure overseas and could help him net an NBA contract.  There are a lot of teams that could use a talented wing player that plays tough defensive basketball.  The leadership he gains with Zalgiris this season can only help his marketability next year.

Although Zalgiris was ultimately defeated by CSKA Moscow in the first game, Weems showed that he is there to compete and, hopefully, can show the NBA that he is ready for a larger role when he returns.

For now, he is giving us a reason to watch Basketball again and analyze the game.  As the NBA loses week after week of regular season basketball to the lockout, Sonny Weems will be playing competitive basketball.  If the season is ultimately cancelled, he’ll still be playing, while others scramble to find something to do.

His off-season gamble, may just end up paying off.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

Zan Tabak Herald

Follow us:

@zantabakherald

@kpedlar

Leave a Comment

Filed under Editorial, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | September 13, 2011 · 6:03 pm

What to do Without NBA Basketball This Year?

The talk has been there all summer.  Fans, players, pundits all predicting that the NBA would foresee a long work stoppage.  The threat of a long lockout has been there all summer long.  Today, however, the reality of that threat began to truly sink in.

The NBA and it’s owners are talking tough.  The Players aren’t backing down.

For the first time since all this lockout mumbo jumbo started, I am feeling a real possibility that the NBA will not happen this year.

Jonas Valanciunas doesn't need the NBA this year, so why do I? Maybe watching Euro basketball will get me ready for the season next year.

For a guy that spends more time than his girlfriend cares to mention watching the Raptors play basketball, this is beginning to get incredibly worrisome.  My winter is spent watching the Raps and whatever games pop up on NBC on the weekends or TNT during the week.

I need my fix.

This has all led me to wonder ‘what the hell am I going to do if there isn’t NBA Basketball this year?’

Here are the top five things I might have to do to pass the time if the NBA work stoppage wipes out the entire year.

5) Get into Reality TV

It might not be so bad.  I mean, Simon Cowell is back on TV right? He was interesting.  I could watch that.  Or maybe So You Think You Can Dance Canada….What? Their season is cancelled too? Is there no justice in the world anymore?

4) I Could Take a Weekly Class

Maybe boxing or a cooking class?  I’ve always wanted to play the guitar, I could do that too.  Maybe I could join a Basketball Rec league.  That would probably just make me miss the NBA even more.  It would be like torturing myself for an hour every Tuesday.  Plus it would make me hunger to watch more footage when I got home and there just wouldn’t be any.

This might be the closest I get to NBA Action this year. Help me.

3) Keep a Diary

I could record all my thoughts and feelings about the lockout and lost season as they occur to me.  Kind of like someone might do in prison or if they were stuck in a mineshaft.  I’m sure I’d go through the stages of grieving first denying it was happening, then getting angry with Derek Fisher and David Stern for their poker faces.  I’d try bartering it all back before finally accepting it was over.  This would likely lead to me ultimately losing it completely, pulling out my old Starting Lineup basketball figurines and trying to create my own season.

…on second thought maybe not my best option.

2) Follow Lithuanian Basketball

Jonas Valanciunas will be there. Sonny Weems will be there.  Lithuania is one of the best up and coming basketball nations.  It could be glorious.  The announcers might even be a highlight despite the fact I have no idea what they are saying.  It would give me some hope for the future and would give me my basketball fix.

Then again I don’t know how much a subscription would be and the streaming might not be ideal leading to frustration, bitterness and regret.  Then again huddling around a laptop or iPhone with a few buddies to watch good basketball might be the best I’ll be able to get.

1) Get into Hockey

I hear the Leafs are supposed to be good this year, right? I hear this Tim Connolly guy might actually be a game changer and that this might be the year the Leafs actually make the playoffs.

Yeah, I’m a Toronto sports fan.  I have blind optimism and hope that my team will perform well, despite the obvious fact that all better judgement seems to suggest that they won’t.

But this is what I’m left with.

Simon Cowell, a cooking class, my startling memoirs, Lithuanian basketball highlights on my phone and the Leafs.

This is what I’ll do.  It’s all I can do.

Please come back NBA.  It’s not too late.  Save me.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

 

1 Comment

Filed under Editorial, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | July 8, 2011 · 9:59 am

Sonny Weems leads the Revolution

Sonny Weems is a Viking and he doesn’t even know it.

Wether or not his decision to sign with Zalgiris in Lithuania influenced anyone is besides the point.  His move was the first of what could be many players heading to Europe on extended leaves of absence until the NBA lockout is settled.

The move is obviously a pre-emptive strike to avoid being left out in the cold during the upcoming NBA season that could be entirely wiped out with a prolonged lockout.  Players would get rusty and skittish sitting around not playing.  In Europe they can burn their competitive fires while waiting for David Stern to figure out this whole mess.  Sounds like a pretty good way to pass the time while the owners and Player reps figure things out back here.

News followed this week that Deron Williams of the New jersey Nets is close to a deal with Turkish club Besiktas.  Kobe Bryant may also follow suit with a stint in Europe.

So has Sonny Weems started a revolution?  It only takes one player making the move and others start to follow.  Will moves such as these put a little more pressure on the owners to settle a fair contract?

Sonny Weems is leading the charge of NBA players to Europe after signing a deal with Zalgiris in Lithuania.

Only time will tell.

Obviously a Deron Williams or Kobe Bryant is going to get more notice than a Sonny Weems.  But good on Sonny for making the move while his contract status with the Raptors and for that matter his entire role with the team is in considerable question.

Sonny clearly has quite a bit to gain from playing overseas during the lockout and may turn it into a lengthy contract if/when he decides to return.  Other players are looking at his decision and realize that it may be in their best interest to keep the fires burning in Europe while David Stern, Derek Fisher and the owners figure out how much more Lebron James and Dwayne Wade can get in a new CBA.

Sonny’s move may also help his NBA club in Toronto.  The Raptors have a new coach with a very clear defensive philosophy.  Sonny Weems is a player that has played, pretty much, the best defense on this team over the last couple of seasons. He could become a valuable asset in coach Dwane Casey’s arsenal as a defensive specialist.

By playing overseas, Sonny is also going to remain in game ready shape and when he comes back to the NBA after the lockout he will be ready to play against the sluggish NBA vets that have been sitting around for months.  The travel and opportunity to play with European vets may also help his game and attitude mature.

Weems made the right decision for himself and he is inspiring others to do the same.  It would be a shame to see the Young Onez broken up next year (if there is a next year), but Weems will likely reap the benefits of playing in Europe.  He’ll score more, become more of a number one scoring option and is likely to be one of the better players in the league.

This gives him huge leverage when the lockout ends (if it ever ends).  Plus he’ll get an up close and personal look at Jonas Valciunas in action.  Isn’t that what we all want right now?

So ladies and gentlemen, Sonny Weems is leading the revolution.  NBA players are headed to Europe.  When this time in NBA history is played back Deron Williams or Kobe Bryant will get most of the credit for leading the charge to Europe the way Christopher Columbus got most of the credit for being the first European to discover America.  We all know the Vikings were there long before 1492 and we all know it was really Sonny that made the first move to Europe.

Sonny Weems is a Viking.

Good luck to Weems in Lithuania( or should I say Sekmes) He’ll likely end up making more money when he comes back and may even become a better player for it, if he doesn’t let being a number one option over there turn him into a black hole back here.  If nothing else Sonny’s European vacation will give Raptor fans even more reason to subscribe to Lithuanian television during the lockout and maybe cancel League Pass.

Kristoffer Pedlar
Zan Tabak Herald

–

Twitter us:

@zantabakherald
@kpedlar

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Editorial, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | January 21, 2011 · 2:55 pm

Young Raptors Still Searching For An Identity

So we’re at the halfway point of the season and the question most Raptor fans are asking themselves about this team is “What exactly do we have here?”. Yes, this team has a few young players that look as though they have some potential to score in buckets, they have players that are working hard to show they belong in the league, but what is this team made of?

Back in the late 1990′s when Vince Carter was just starting out with the Raptors there was some excitement for the future.  You could tell Vince was a special player that was going to provide fans with a plethora of jaw-dropping moments.  Tracy McGrady was just coming into his own and fans could sense a serious run at dominance in the Eastern Conference. In addition, the Raptors brought in players like Charles Oakley, Kevin Willis, Alvin Williams and Antonio Davis to provide veteran leadership and players that knew their role on and off the court.  Later they added guys like Jerome Williams and Keon Clark that added energy off the bench.

The Raptors haven't had a clear identity since the days of Charles Oakley. The young Raptors need to find out who they are and players in the mould of Charles Oakley would helpthese young players.

These players didn’t all have the long-term future that players like Vince and Tracy seemed to have, but they had an identity.  They knew who they were and they knew their role on the team, or at least, found that out during the years they played together.

This years squad doesn’t seem to have an identity worked out yet.  Like an adolescent entering their teenage years, they still aren’t sure who they are.  Who is your go-to player? Bargnani? Derozan? There is no clear-cut Vince Carter like player that is set to take the number one role.  On winning teams this is an established point.  The Raptors don’t have that yet and it is questionable, at best, to think that they have a grand idea of who that is going to be.

Where are the grizzled veterans that have been through the battles of the NBA playoffs like Oakley and Willis?  Sure, they have a great veteran in the form of Reggie Evans and some great former players on the coaching staff as well in Alex English and Alvin Williams.  But who is the vocal leader in that locker room?  Who are the players whispering in the ears of Ed Davis and Demar Derozan?

At this time their one true veteran leader is Reggie Evans.  He is tough, plays the game using the skill set he has and doesn’t veer too far away from what he is good at.  He is present during every Raptor game either as a player or as a vocal spectator.  He gives advice to the young players and seems like a great role model for someone like Ed Davis to learn the game from.  But is he enough? Will he even be on the team come April? Good money says his expiring contract is used to add another piece to the puzzle, but is says here that the Raptors should think long and hard about keeping him as a mentor for young Ed.

The Raptors are in a period of adjustment, that is for sure, but they are still searching for an identity.  Are they a fast break team?  Some players (Bargnani, Derozan, Weems) would seem to fit well with that plan and yet the point guard running the show (Calderon), doesn’t run a high tempo offense.

Are they a defensive team?  Players like Ed Davis and Amir Johnson have elements of defensive intensity in their game, but arguably your three best players (Bargnani, Derozan and Calderon) do not play defense well.  Your strongest defensive presence comes from Julian Wright who doesn’t seem to fit into the current or future plans of this ball club.

Are the Raptors a team that will rely on its three-point shooting?  They just eliminated Peja Stojakovic from their roster and have been shooting a dismal percentage from behind the arc all season.  If they want to win from behind the arc they might need to call up Dave Hoppla.

What about Bangers?  Are they bangers?  Well Reggie Evans is and Ed Davis looks like he might be, but Andrea Bargnani doesn’t even eat bangers and Mash.  The Raptors have held their own on the glass in some games, but then get killed in others.  That’s not it either.

Bryan Colangelo is now looking at some financial flexibility this coming off-season with expiring deals and the long held, and often debated trade exception, and with each passing day it looks as though he’ll have a fairly high draft pick as well.  I think it’s time that he looks, not to make a final push for the playoffs, but firms up exactly who this team is.

Andrea Bargnani and Demar Derozan look like nice players to start building a team with.  Add in Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and Jarryd Bayless and you have some nice young complimentary pieces.  But who is the face of this franchise?  Who is the leader?  What is their angle ?

These are important questions that Colangelo needs to answer.  Good teams know who they are.  They have an identity.  This team is still forging theirs.  There are some hopeful signs from this current roster, but that feeling Raptors fans had back in 1998 seems like it is still far away.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
***
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

Leave a Comment

Filed under Editorial, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | December 14, 2010 · 10:22 pm

Raptors Toss Up Bricks in Charlotte

I hate when the Raptors play in Charlotte.  Every year it seems they go in there on a bit of a high and then play well for part of the game only to hand Charlotte a come from behind win.  The Raptors, once again, couldn’t defeat the Bobcats at home and the team is now heading home scratching their heads and licking their wounds.

Andrea Bargnani had one of his worst games of the season and could not get into any kind of groove.  Jarryd Bayless was Jekyll and Hyde out there going from brilliant to ridiculous from possession to possession.  He clearly has some upside and has done some great things since being thrust into the starting job, but he’s young and doesn’t always let the game come to him.

The Raptors had control in the first half but couldn’t score in the second.  They were blocked 18 times by Charlotte and had very no interior defense to speak of.  Triano mixed things up a bit tonight but there was no combination that could hit the mark.

A tough loss for the Raps.

Zan for Three

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

Jarryd Bayless has had an incredibly interesting first week as an NBA starter hasn’t he?  You can’t say he doesn’t keep it interesting.  He plays an awful game against Denver at home and then is the key force behind the largest comeback in team history against Detroit.  Tonight he looked good for most of the game.  He ran the point well, took smart shots and distributed well.

Then the fourth quarter happened.

He did not protect the ball well and took some awful shots, forgetting about the rest of his teammates.

I think there is a solid NBA player in there somewhere and it is important to remember that these mistakes are a hallmark of most young players, especially ones still getting used to new teammates.

Not a game to remember for Bayless, but he certainly had his moments.

Give and Ye Shall Receive

Amir Johnson was on the court for a grand total of 36 minutes collecting a double-double with twelve boards and twelve points.  Why did Amir get such an extended amount of playing time?  He only had 2 fouls by halftime.  Yes, he finished with 5 in total, but was able to keep himself out of foul trouble for the majority of the game.

The Raptors just couldn't get it done in Charlotte, coming up just short in the fourth quarter.

His reward?

More playing time.

This is what Raptor fans, Bryan Colangelo and Jay Triano want to see.  Amir Johnson is a significant part of the future of the Toronto Raptors and he needs to find a way to stay on the court.  Tonight he did and he was able to contribute more than most members of the team.  Nice to see him play well and the coach reward him for his hard work.

Amir is becoming a better and better all around player and is making Raptor fans miss Chris Bosh less and less each game.

Now why Sonny Weems is getting 36 minutes is the more important question.

Our Baby is Growing Up

Nice to see Ed Davis get his first sniff of extended minutes as well.  Yes, he looked a little slow and sloppy on the defensive end at times and committed  5 fouls, but he played hard.  I liked what he brought to the defensive end of the floor and is getting more and more confident as his minutes and time on the court increase.

Davis isn’t going to learn much in the NBA by sitting on the bench so it is nice to see Triano playing him longer and in increasingly significant points in the game.

Zan of the Night

Nazr Mohammed

The Raptors interior defense is horrible and Nazr Mohammed took full advantage tonight.  He abused the Raptors inside and shot a ridiculous 8/11 from the field.  He was pretty much unstoppable under the basket.  Whether that had more to do with Mohammed’s solid play or Bargnani’s defensive effort is up for debate.  Either way, he took full advantage of the Raptors defense deficiencies and was the difference in the game.

Not Zan of the Game

Andrea Bargnani

Bargnani played a stinker tonight, didn’t he?

He could not find a groove or hit a shot and at times moved around the court like an awkward teenager that just went through a growth spurt.  He was awful and when he isn’t on his game the Raptors do not play well.  He is the core of this team, like it or not, and so goes Bargnani, so goes the Raptors.

His defensive effort in the paint was almost non-existent and players like Nazr Mohammed and (GASP!!) Kwame Brown had great games. There is some irony in that last statement somewhere.

I did like one play in the fourth quarter where Bargnani missed an open jumper, collected his own rebound and then immediately took another shot and hit it.  That was an acknowledgement on Bargnani’s part that he wasn’t shooting well and was trying to get it going just in time.

Sadly he did not and the team could not figure itself out.

He has been great this year and games like this will happen, but it certainly wasn’t pretty out there.  Bargnani must play harder on the defensive end, especially on nights when his shot isn’t falling.  Otherwise he is a liability out there.

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

2 Comments

Filed under Post game, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | December 11, 2010 · 11:22 pm

The Miracle in Michigan

Christmas came early for the Toronto Raptors in Detroit on Saturday night.  The Raptors overcame a 25 point deficit to beat the Pistons 120 – 116 on their home court and erased a four game slide.

The Raptors fell behind because of poor transition defense, costly turnovers and an inability to stop players inside.  Ben Wallace was drinking from the fountain of youth in the first half and finished the game with 23 points.  The Raptors got caught in transition and just didn’t take care of the ball.  The second quarter was an absolute nightmare as they gave up 43 points.

The 43 points given up in the second quarter should have done them in, but the Raptors clawed their way back.  The team relied on strong defense and smart offensive sets to get them back in the game.  They forced Detroit into several turnovers and the team was able to take advantage of great open looks.

Ultimately the Pistons shot themselves in the foot and the Raptors made them pay for it shooting and unbelievable 60% from the field.  Give credit where credit is due the Raptors took advantage of their chances in the fourth quarter and the Pistons could not stop them.

The Zan for Three

The Wright Stuff

This Julian Wright kid is beginning to look like a really good player.  I had a chance to be at the Denver game and watched the change in the team defense when he was on the floor.  It happened again today.  He changes the intensity of the team’s defense.  He play his man tight and he helps force turnovers.  His contribution will never show up on a score sheet but he makes an unquestionable difference when he’s on the court.  With Sonny Weems and Demar Derozan disappearing every other game, Julian could become an important piece off the bench.  Over the last two games he has made a huge impact on the team and is becoming a very important part of the club.  I hope he gets some more minutes.

Don’t Get Caught on the Flip Flop

The Raptors have been getting absolutely burned in transition the last few games and tonight was no different.  Stuckey ran the ball well and made big lays of Raptor turnovers in the first half.  The problems in transition were not as clear as they were in the Denver game, but the Raptors have got to get back on defense after they score or miss.  With a team that possesses the amount of speed that the Raptors do there is no excuse for them not to get back on the defensive end.  Tonight they were able to negate some of those errors, but over their four game losing streak the points given up in transition absolutely killed them.

Jarryd Bayless had reason to celebrate as the Toronto Raptors came back from 25 points to shock the Detroit Pistons. The 25 point comeback was the biggest in Raptor History.

Redemption

Nice to see Jarryd Bayless come back strong after an absolutely awful performance against Denver.  He was given the starting duties for the injured Calderon and played a stinker against the Nuggets in front of the hometown crowd.  Tonight he had a rough first half, turning the ball over a number of times.  But Bayless is a hard worker and someone who does not give up easily.  Against Denver he came out before the rest of the team during the half to take extra shots in the hope he could get himself back on track.  He wants to do well and you can tell that he wants to take advantage of this opportunity to start.  Last night was a dreadful performance, so it was especially sweet to see him bounce back tonight with a game high 31 points.   He is a nice young player and could be part of the future of this team going forward.  He was one of the best players on the floor during the key fourth quarter and looks like a player Toronto fans are going to enjoy watching.

Zan of the Night

Jay Triano

Way to get your team moving in the right direction.  I felt he made the right substitutions at the right time and called the right plays down the stretch.  The old adage that “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” was exemplified by the entire team.  You don’t get young players fighting when they’re down 25 points if they don’t believe in the person who tells them to keep fighting.  This team obviously buys what Triano is selling them.  He has found the right way to reach his players.  The days of breaking clipboards over his knee has been replaced by patience and consistency.  When Amir makes bad fouls, he gets yanked.  When Demar and Sonny can’t hit a shot, he puts Wright in there to send a message.  Tonight his message was received loud and clear.  I think this coach’s job is safe.

Not Zan of the Night

Tracy McGrady

I hate you Tracy McGrady.  I have said it many times in this column, but I just can’t stand looking at you.  You exemplify so many things wrong with the NBA.  I hated you when you left Toronto for fame and fortune in Orlando and I am enjoying watching play an insignificant role on a team going nowhere. I have already let go of my anger for Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, but I will never let go of my hatred for you.   You suck!

 

***
Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald
***
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Zantabakherald

 

 

3 Comments

Filed under Post game, Raptor News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,